Quote - > Quote - > Quote - > Quote -

I'ms sorry but by that logic they should have outlawed Pawnbrokering years ago! And yet Pawnshops still exist all across the USA  and continue to sell "HOT" merchandise! On top of that, what with all the high prices on metal these days, Metal buyers in my city have all been forced to record all of their buyers because with all the forclosures, vacant homes are being stripped of their copper wire and tubing across the city. We can't jail the metal merchants for providing an outlet to theives to sell stolen metal!

I know it's hard to catch it, but I thought people and merchants do get in trouble when they get caught selling stolen goods.

They only get into trouble if they don't have records of Who they bought from. This same rule should apply to peer sharing sites. You don't see Pawn Broker's being hauled off in droves for selling stolen merchandise because they keep records of who they buy what from and the cops then go get the theives and NOT the merchants. The same should apply to internet file sharing sites. They should be forced to keep records of who is sharing what. Plain and Simple.

Well, torrent sites for example inherentlly have records, published online, because they track whom is seeding what, and spreading that information around. It's warehouse of information where you can get various illegal copies of software, music, movies etc... and an occasional legal piece. I would think that would make them an accessory in distribution of stolen goods.

By that logic so would a pawn broker. The point is. If they have the records, they should be bound by law to release them just as Pawn Brokers are. That would keep the heat off them and on the theives where it should be. Period.

Quote - > Quote - Piracy is as old as the software industry.

The FBI is not gonna break down your door and confiscate your computer because you stole a pair of fairy wings.
I'm not advocating anything but any characterization of this discussion as anything but philosophical is a serious disconnect from reality.

These convictions are legally insignificant outside of Sweden.
The OP is guilty of fear mongering.

That's a brilliant post, and one of the few here on this subject which makes sense!

Except I disagree on one point: Piracy goes back long before software - they used to just call it theft. ;-)

And while there may be those who advocate the gub'ment stepping in and intruding on people to keep them honest, I still say it's a can of worms nobody really wants to open, no matter how "right" it may seem.

Yes, I'm looking at you, Lost In Space Dude - you don't really want to condone precedents of abridging privacy, which would necessarily reach far beyond the relatively insignificant Poser world, for all of us, not only the dishonest:

Quote -
They should be forced to keep records of who is sharing what. Plain and Simple.

Look all you want MikeJ. The precidents already exist, so my condoning is irrelevant. There are already laws on the books that require Pawn Brokers, Video Resellers, Metal Recyclers and any number of other "Redistributors" to keep records of their transactions so that thefts can be traced.

I don't see forcing Torrent sites keeping records of original uploaders of Torrents, (You know, the ones who seed the files first), as any sort of breach of Privacy. Keeping records of those who are downloading, wouldn't be neccesary. You want to stop the uploaders and then there will BE no illegal downloading correct? Those are the only records that need to be legally released to the authorities. 

Here's a great example. Here in Saint Louis, there has been a HUGE rise in break ins of forclosed and abandoned homes to steal the copper to resell to recycling houses because of the economy being what it is and the current price on copper. Because of this, a local law was passed last year requiring that All the local recycling places require a Drivers license or state ID before they will buy your metal scrapes now. PERIOD.

If you're caught selling stolen copper. It's your ass on the line, not the metal recyclers, not the people who buy from them either. It's the theive's backside that will get hauled off.